Mark Messier Scores Four as Oilers Beat Canadiens in 1982

Wayne Gretzky finished with one assist and Jari Kurri was held off the scoresheet, but the Montreal Canadiens still couldn’t contain Edmonton’s offence on December 19, 1982. Mark Messier scored four times to lead the Oilers to a 5-2 victory at Northlands Coliseum. It was his fourth regular-season NHL hat trick and his first four-goal game.

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Highlights

• Messier scored four goals in Edmonton’s 5-2 win on December 19, 1982.

• It was his first NHL four-goal game.

• He opened the scoring on a second-period power play.

• Two of his goals were unassisted, including the winner.

• His hat trick goal came at 7:30 of the third period.

• Gretzky and Anderson finished with one assist each.

• Lumley contributed two assists; Fuhr made 29 saves.

• Boschman scored Edmonton’s only other goal.

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Montreal entered the matchup with the better record, and neither team scored through the opening half of the game. Messier finally broke through at 11:59 of the second period, just 19 seconds after Steve Shutt received a tripping penalty. The unassisted power-play goal beat Richard Sévigny and opened what would become a memorable night for the Edmonton forward.

Less than two minutes later, Messier struck again. His 19th goal of the 1982-83 season gave the Oilers a 2-0 lead, with Gretzky and Glenn Anderson collecting the assists. That would be the only point of the game for either player. Montreal responded with goals from Ryan Walter and Gilbert Delorme, erasing Edmonton’s advantage and setting up a third-period battle.

Messier supplied the deciding goal at 7:30 of the third. Once again, he scored without an assist, completing his hat trick and putting Edmonton ahead for good. Laurie Boschman supplied the Oilers’ only goal that didn’t belong to Messier, while Moose finished his four-goal performance by hitting the empty net with 33 seconds remaining. Dave Lumley and Charlie Huddy assisted on the final goal.

Lumley finished with two assists, making him the only Oiler besides Messier to record more than one point. Walter figured in both Montreal goals, scoring once and assisting on Delorme’s marker. Grant Fuhr stopped 29 of 31 shots for Edmonton, while Sévigny made 47 saves on 51 shots before Messier’s empty-net finish. On a team loaded with scoring talent, this night belonged to Moose.

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Pit Martin Scores Four Goals Against His Future Team in Bruins’ 5–3 Win

Before Pit Martin joined the Chicago Black Hawks in one of hockey’s most famous trades, he gave them a memorable night for entirely different reasons. On January 27, 1966, Martin scored four goals against Chicago at Boston Garden, powering the Bruins to a 5–3 victory. Boston had entered the game with just ten wins in its first 40 games, making Martin’s offensive outburst a welcome bright spot in a difficult season.

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Highlights

• Martin scored four goals in Boston’s 5–3 win on January 27, 1966.

• The Bruins entered the game with ten wins through 40 games.

• John Bucyk assisted on all four Martin goals.

• Martin scored twice in the first period and once in each remaining period.

• Bobby Hull scored his 40th goal of the season for Chicago.

• Phil Esposito’s late second-period goal brought Chicago within one.

• Martin and Esposito changed teams in the six-player trade of May 15, 1967.

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Martin opened the scoring against Glenn Hall at 4:02 of the first period, with John Bucyk collecting the assist. He struck again at 15:17, this time assisted by Bucyk and Al Langlois. Bucyk would have a hand in all four of Martin’s goals, and the Bruins carried a comfortable 3–0 lead into the first intermission.

Chicago quickly made things interesting in the second period. Bobby Hull spoiled Ed Johnston’s shutout bid with his 40th goal of the season at 1:26, and Doug Mohns followed with a goal that trimmed Boston’s lead to 3–2. Martin answered at 11:02, completing his hat trick with help from Ron Stewart and Bucyk. The Black Hawks weren’t finished, however. With just 40 seconds remaining in the period, Phil Esposito scored his 16th goal of the season to bring Chicago within one again.

Martin supplied the final answer just 2:02 into the third period. His fourth goal restored Boston’s two-goal cushion and completed the scoring in a 5–3 victory. Bucyk earned his fourth assist of the night as the Bruins secured their 11th win of the season.

The matchup would take on an added layer of significance the following year. On May 15, 1967, Boston traded Martin, defenceman Gilles Marotte and goaltender Jack Norris to Chicago for Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield. Martin’s four-goal performance had come against his future team, while one of Chicago’s scorers that night would soon help transform the Bruins.

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Mickey Redmond Scores 50 as Detroit Rolls at Maple Leaf Gardens

Mickey Redmond arrived at Maple Leaf Gardens on March 27, 1973, one goal away from making Detroit Red Wings history. By the time he left, he had passed the milestone with an encore to spare. Redmond scored his 50th and 51st goals just 18 seconds apart as Detroit overwhelmed the Toronto Maple Leafs 8–1.

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Highlights

• Redmond became Detroit’s first 50-goal scorer on March 27, 1973.

• His milestone goal came at 16:47 of the third period.

• He scored his 51st just 18 seconds later.

• Detroit defeated Toronto 8–1 at Maple Leaf Gardens.

• Bill Collins contributed two goals and an assist, including the winner.

• Redmond finished 1972–73 with 52 goals and scored 51 the following season.

• He became the third NHL player with multiple 50-goal seasons.

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Playing his 73rd game of the 1972–73 season, Redmond carried 49 goals into the matchup and remained there until late in the third period. At 16:47, he beat Toronto goaltender Ron Low with Gary Bergman drawing the assist. The goal gave Detroit a 6–1 lead and made Redmond the first player in franchise history to score 50 goals in a season.

The celebration had barely begun when Redmond struck again. His unassisted goal at 17:05 pushed Detroit’s lead to 7–1 and brought his season total to 51. He finished the campaign with 52, becoming the seventh player in NHL history to reach the 50-goal mark. Philadelphia’s Rick MacLeish also joined the club that season, becoming its eighth member.

Bill Collins, meanwhile, had a strong claim to the night’s best all-around offensive performance. He assisted on Henry Boucha’s opening goal before scoring the eventual winner just 3:44 into the first period, with assists going to Red Berenson and Ron Stackhouse. Boucha returned the favour in the second period, helping Collins score his second goal of the game and 20th of the season. Collins finished with two goals and an assist.

Redmond’s breakthrough was the beginning of a remarkable two-season stretch. He followed his 52-goal campaign with 51 in 1973–74, becoming only the third player in NHL history to record more than one 50-goal season, following Bobby Hull and Phil Esposito. For Detroit, the night in Toronto marked the arrival of its first member of hockey’s exclusive 50-goal club.

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Ross Lonsberry’s Last-Second Goal Gives Kings a 5–4 Win Over Rangers in 1970

Ross Lonsberry waited until the final second to make his offensive contribution count. On January 28, 1970, at the Forum in Los Angeles, he scored with one second remaining to give the Kings a dramatic 5–4 victory over the New York Rangers. His ninth goal of the season capped a finish that featured three goals in the final 2:38.

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Highlights

• Lonsberry scored at 19:59 of the third period on January 28, 1970.

• His ninth goal of the season gave Los Angeles a 5–4 victory.

• The teams combined for three goals in the final 2:38.

• Lonsberry accumulated nine penalty minutes, including a fight with Brad Park.

• Neither team scored a power-play goal.

• Leon Rochefort and Larry Cahan assisted on the winner.

• Bill Flett recorded seven shots, while Wayne Rutledge made 22 saves.

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Before delivering the winner, Lonsberry had been busy collecting penalty minutes. He received a hooking minor just 47 seconds into the game, fought Brad Park in the second period and took another hooking penalty in the third. That left him with nine minutes in the box. Park also received a ten-minute misconduct following their fight, having already dropped the gloves with Skip Krake in the opening period.

Despite the trips to the penalty box, neither team scored a power-play goal. The Rangers held a 2–1 lead entering the third period, but goals by Jimmy Peters and Butch Goring put Los Angeles ahead. Walt Tkaczuk answered at 10:12, bringing New York back into a 3–3 tie and setting up a frantic finish.

Bill Flett restored the Kings’ lead at 17:22 with his eighth goal of the season. Just 87 seconds later, Bob Nevin replied for the Rangers, with Park supplying the assist. With the score tied 4–4 and the clock winding down, the teams appeared headed for a draw.

Lonsberry changed that at 19:59, beating Ed Giacomin with assists from Leon Rochefort and Larry Cahan. The winner came on Los Angeles’ 31st shot, with Flett leading the Kings with seven shots on goal. At the other end, Wayne Rutledge made 22 saves to earn the victory. After spending much of his night on the penalty sheet, Lonsberry claimed the final, and most important, entry on the scoresheet.

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Rick Martin and René Robert Combine for Six Third-Period Points Against Rangers

Rick Martin and René Robert needed just ten seconds between goals to turn a close game into a comfortable Buffalo lead. On January 10, 1974, the two French Connection wingers combined for eight points in a 7–2 victory over the New York Rangers at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. Six of those points came in the third period, including four in the opening 31 seconds. Gilbert Perreault, so often the driving force behind Buffalo’s offence, finished with a single assist.

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Highlights

• Buffalo defeated New York 7–2 on January 10, 1974.

• Martin and Robert each finished with four points.

• Six of their eight combined points came in the third period.

• Robert scored at 0:21 of the third; Martin followed at 0:31.

• Both assisted on Jim Lorentz’s first-period power-play goal.

• Martin finished the season with a franchise-first 52 goals.

• Buffalo missed the 1974 playoffs before reaching the 1975 Stanley Cup Final.

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Martin and Robert first appeared on the scoresheet late in the opening period, assisting on Jim Lorentz’s power-play goal against Ed Giacomin at 18:27. Lorentz scored again in the second, while Brad Park answered for New York. The Sabres carried a narrow 2–1 lead into the final frame, with little indication on the scoreboard of the outburst to come.

Robert started the third-period fireworks just 21 seconds after the faceoff, scoring his 13th goal of the season with assists from Martin and Perreault. Ten seconds later, Martin buried his 29th, helped by Robert and Jerry Korab. In barely half a minute, Buffalo’s one-goal advantage had grown to three, and Martin and Robert had already collected two points apiece in the period.

Don Luce and Korab also scored during Buffalo’s five-goal third period. Martin added his second of the night and 30th of the season at 14:54, with Robert earning the lone assist. Ted Irvine supplied New York’s other goal as the Sabres finished off the 7–2 win. Martin ended the evening with two goals and two assists, while Robert contributed a goal and three helpers.

Martin went on to become Buffalo’s first 50-goal scorer, finishing the 1973–74 season with 52 goals and 86 points. He matched that goal total the following year. Robert finished with 65 points, while Perreault recorded 51 in just 55 games. Buffalo missed the playoffs that spring, but the setback was temporary: the Sabres returned in 1974–75 and advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

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Ralph Backstrom’s Five-Point Night Powers Canadiens to 7-0 Win in Chicago

Ralph Backstrom had a hand in five of Montreal’s seven goals on November 23, 1967, scoring a hat trick and adding two assists in a 7-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium. The Kirkland Lake, Ontario native also fired ten shots at Denis DeJordy, accounting for nearly a third of the Canadiens’ 32 shots on goal.

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Highlights

• Montreal defeated Chicago 7-0 at Chicago Stadium on November 23, 1967.

• Ralph Backstrom scored three goals and added two assists.

• His first two goals came in the opening period.

• He completed the hat trick on a second-period power play.

• Backstrom recorded ten of Montreal’s 32 shots on goal.

• Gump Worsley made 15 saves for his 31st career NHL shutout.

• Backstrom and Denis DeJordy later became Los Angeles Kings teammates.

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Backstrom entered the game with just four goals through Montreal’s first 18 games of the 1967-68 season. He scored his fifth at 5:47 of the opening period, beating DeJordy with help from Claude Larose. Before the intermission, he struck again, this time assisted by J.C. Tremblay and Dick Duff, to give the Canadiens a 3-0 lead.

The hat trick was complete at 10:28 of the second period. With Chicago defenceman Doug Jarrett serving a tripping penalty, Backstrom scored on the power play with assists from Tremblay and Yvan Cournoyer. After arriving in Chicago with four goals on the season, he had increased his total to seven before the game was halfway through.

Backstrom then turned playmaker. Later in the second period, he helped Larose score his first goal of the season. At 6:44 of the third, he picked up another assist on a Cournoyer goal to complete his five-point performance. DeJordy, the goaltender on the receiving end of that outburst, would later become his teammate with the Los Angeles Kings.

At the other end, Gump Worsley stopped all 15 Chicago shots for his second shutout of the season and the 31st of his NHL career. His first shutout that season had also required just 15 saves, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This would be the first of two times Worsley blanked the Blackhawks during the 1967-68 campaign.

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Ken Dryden Makes 46 Saves, but Flyers Beat Canadiens in 1975 Showdown

Ken Dryden stopped nearly everything Philadelphia threw at him on November 16, 1975. He even contributed an assist. Still, the Montreal Canadiens left the Spectrum with a 3-1 loss in an early-season showdown between two teams that would meet again in the 1976 Stanley Cup Final.

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Highlights

• Philadelphia defeated Montreal 3-1 on November 16, 1975.

• Dryden stopped 46 of the 48 shots he faced.

• He also assisted on Guy Lafleur’s opening goal.

• Rick MacLeish recorded ten shots and scored the winner.

• Wayne Stephenson made 26 saves for Philadelphia.

• Gary Dornhoefer sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.

• Dryden followed the loss with a 17-save shutout in Minnesota.

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Montreal struck first when Guy Lafleur beat Wayne Stephenson at 5:02 of the opening period. Pete Mahovlich and Dryden collected the assists, giving the Canadiens’ goaltender a hand in the only goal his team would score all night. At the other end, Philadelphia kept Dryden busy, forcing him to stop 46 of the 48 shots he faced.

Bob Kelly tied the game at 11:05 of the second period before Rick MacLeish put the Flyers ahead at 16:31. Gary Dornhoefer and Ross Lonsberry assisted on MacLeish’s seventh goal of the season, which held up as the winner. MacLeish alone fired ten shots at Dryden, with Montreal’s number 29 stopping nine of them.

Stephenson handled the lighter workload effectively, turning aside 26 of Montreal’s 27 shots. With Dryden on the bench for an extra attacker, Dornhoefer scored into the empty net with six seconds remaining. His goal and earlier assist made him the game’s only player with two points.

Dryden rebounded three nights later in Minnesota, stopping all 17 shots in a 6-0 victory over the North Stars. Remarkably, he had blanked Minnesota by the same score just eight days earlier, making 14 saves in Montreal on November 11. Against Philadelphia, however, even 46 saves and an assist had not been enough.

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Yvan Cournoyer’s Hat Trick Evens Canadiens–Rangers Series in 1974

The New York Rangers struck first in their 1974 Stanley Cup quarter-final series against the Montreal Canadiens, winning the opener 4–1 at the Montreal Forum. When the teams returned for Game 2 on April 11, the final score was identical, but the winning side changed. Yvan Cournoyer scored three consecutive goals to give the Canadiens a 4–1 victory and even the best-of-seven series.

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Highlights

• Montreal won Game 2 on April 11, 1974, at the Montreal Forum.

• Cournoyer scored three consecutive goals for a natural hat trick.

• His first goal, at 18:11 of the second period, was the game winner.

• Goaltender Michel Larocque assisted on the winning goal.

• Jacques Lemaire assisted on both third-period goals.

• Cournoyer and Lemaire combined for 14 of Montreal’s 31 shots.

• The Rangers ultimately won the series in six games.

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New York again grabbed the early advantage. Bruce MacGregor scored the only goal of the first period, with assists going to Pete Stemkowski and Brad Park. Montreal answered at 5:03 of the second when Steve Shutt beat Rangers goaltender Ed Giacomin, taking a setup from Henri Richard to tie the game.

Cournoyer then took control. At 18:11 of the second period, the Roadrunner scored his first goal of the playoffs to put Montreal ahead 2–1. Defenceman Pierre Bouchard and goaltender Michel Larocque earned the assists on what proved to be the winning goal.

The third period belonged to Cournoyer as well. He scored at 11:53 and completed his natural hat trick at 14:51, turning a one-goal lead into a comfortable three-goal cushion. Jacques Lemaire assisted on both third-period goals, while Chuck Lefley also picked up a helper on the hat-trick goal.

Cournoyer and Lemaire each fired seven shots at Giacomin, combining for 14 of Montreal’s 31 shots. At the other end, Larocque stopped 18 of the Rangers’ 19 attempts, contributing both a strong performance in goal and an assist on the deciding tally.

Montreal carried that momentum into Game 3, winning 4–2 at Madison Square Garden on April 13 to take a 2–1 series lead. The Rangers responded with three straight victories to eliminate the Canadiens in six games. New York then pushed the Philadelphia Flyers to seven games in the semi-finals before its playoff run ended.

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Shakey Beats a Cold Crozier: A Maple Leafs Penalty Shot Oddity

Mike Walton scored just once on three penalty shots during his NHL career, but that lone goal came with an unusual twist. On March 9, 1968 at Maple Leaf Gardens, the Toronto Maple Leafs forward beat a goalie who had come off the Detroit Red Wings’ bench specifically to face him. Roger Crozier’s brief appearance produced one of those statistical oddities that makes hockey history so entertaining.

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Highlights

• Walton scored on one of three NHL penalty shots, including the playoffs.

• His only successful attempt came on March 9, 1968 against Detroit.

• Roger Crozier replaced Roy Edwards specifically for the penalty shot.

• Crozier finished with one goal allowed and 0:00 played.

• Walton also assisted on Ron Ellis’s third-period tying goal.

• Toronto and Detroit combined for four goals in 2:02.

• Jack Norris stopped Walton’s next penalty shot the following night.

• Glenn Resch denied his final attempt during the 1979 playoffs.

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Toronto held a 6–5 lead when Walton was awarded his penalty shot at 16:40 of the third period. Instead of leaving starting goalie Roy Edwards in net, Detroit brought in Crozier to challenge “Shakey.” The move backfired. Walton scored his 27th goal of the season, giving the Maple Leafs some breathing room in an eventual 7–5 victory. Edwards then returned to finish the game.

Crozier’s official goaltending line tells the story: one shot faced, one goal allowed, a .000 save percentage and 0:00 played. With no playing time running off the clock during the penalty shot, Edwards still received credit for the full 60 minutes despite allowing only six of Toronto’s seven goals.

Walton’s goal capped a frantic third period in which he also assisted on Ron Ellis’s tying goal at 4:54. That made the score 4–4 and began a stretch of four goals in just 2:02. Norm Ullman put Toronto ahead, Nick Libett answered for Detroit, and Dave Keon restored the Leafs’ lead at 6:56. Keon’s 11th goal of the season stood as the game winner.

Remarkably, Walton received another penalty shot the very next night. Facing the Chicago Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium on March 10, he was stopped by Jack Norris. The Chicago goalie turned aside all 27 Toronto shots in a 4–0 shutout, giving Walton very different results on penalty shots taken on consecutive nights.

Walton’s final NHL penalty shot came more than a decade later, this time while wearing a Chicago uniform. On April 20, 1979, Glenn “Chico” Resch denied him in Game 3 of the Black Hawks’ quarter-final series against the New York Islanders. Once again, Walton’s team lost 4–0. His career tally, including the playoffs, remained one successful penalty shot in three attempts, and the only goal came against a goalie credited with no time played.

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Rick MacLeish’s Game 7 Hat Trick Ends Islanders’ 1975 Comeback Bid

The New York Islanders had pushed the defending Stanley Cup champions to the brink of an embarrassing collapse. After Philadelphia won the first three games of their 1975 semifinal series, New York answered with three straight victories. That left everything riding on Game 7 at the Spectrum on May 13, 1975. Rick MacLeish made sure the Flyers’ title defence would continue.

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Highlights

• Played May 13, 1975, at the Spectrum.

• New York forced Game 7 after trailing the series 3–0.

• Gary Dornhoefer opened the scoring just 19 seconds in.

• MacLeish scored twice on the power play in the first period.

• His empty-net goal completed the hat trick in a 4–1 win.

• Bernie Parent stopped 14 of 15 shots.

• Philadelphia advanced to face Buffalo and won its second straight Stanley Cup.

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Gary Dornhoefer gave Philadelphia an immediate lift, opening the scoring just 19 seconds after the opening faceoff. MacLeish followed with a power-play goal at 2:27, assisted by Bill Barber and Bobby Clarke. That early marker would stand as the game winner, although the Islanders briefly cut the lead to 2–1 on a Jude Drouin power-play goal at 5:02.

MacLeish restored Philadelphia’s two-goal cushion at 7:11 of the first period, beating Glenn Resch for his second power-play goal of the night. Larry Goodenough supplied the lone assist on the goal, MacLeish’s ninth of the playoffs. The Flyers carried that 3–1 advantage through a scoreless second period and deep into the third.

With Resch pulled for an extra attacker, MacLeish completed his hat trick at 18:52, scoring into the empty net with an assist from Don Saleski. Philadelphia’s 4–1 victory ended New York’s comeback bid and secured a second consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final. MacLeish led all players with eight shots, followed by Reggie Leach with seven, while Bernie Parent stopped 14 of the Islanders’ 15 shots.

It was MacLeish’s second hat trick of the 1975 postseason. He had opened Philadelphia’s quarterfinal series against Toronto with three goals and an assist in a 6–3 victory on April 13. Against Buffalo in the Stanley Cup Final, he scored once in six games as the Flyers captured their second straight championship. His Game 7 performance against the Islanders helped ensure they had the opportunity.

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The Only Goalie to Shut Out the 1976-77 Canadiens? Mike Palmateer

The Montreal Canadiens were a daunting opponent in 1976-77, but a Toronto rookie managed something no other NHL goaltender accomplished against them that regular season. On November 17, 1976, Mike Palmateer stopped all 39 shots he faced at Maple Leaf Gardens, giving the Maple Leafs a 1-0 victory. The goalie known as the “Popcorn Kid” was playing just his ninth NHL game.

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Highlights

• Montreal’s only shutout loss of the 1976-77 regular season.

• Palmateer was playing just his ninth NHL game.

• Toronto won 1-0 at Maple Leaf Gardens on November 17, 1976.

• Lanny McDonald scored at 8:26 of the first period.

• Palmateer stopped 39 shots; Ken Dryden made 29 saves.

• Steve Shutt and Brian Glennie fought in the second period.

• Palmateer had also shut out Vancouver in his previous appearance.

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Lanny McDonald supplied all the offence Toronto needed at 8:26 of the first period. His 14th goal of the season, assisted by Darryl Sittler and Ian Turnbull, beat Ken Dryden and stood as the game winner. Dryden was nearly unbeatable himself, stopping 29 of Toronto’s 30 shots.

Montreal kept Palmateer busy throughout the night, including a 16-shot third period as the Canadiens searched for the equalizer. Guy Lapointe led the visitors with six shots, while Steve Shutt and Réjean Houle contributed five apiece. At the other end, defenceman Börje Salming paced the Maple Leafs with six shots on Dryden.

There was also a second-period confrontation between two former Toronto Marlboros. Shutt and Toronto defenceman Brian Glennie dropped the gloves, receiving fighting majors at 3:41. With the only goal already on the scoreboard, the rest of the evening belonged to the goaltenders.

Remarkably, Palmateer’s performance against Montreal was his second consecutive shutout. Four nights earlier, on November 13, he had stopped all 30 shots in a 3-0 road victory over the Vancouver Canucks at the Pacific Coliseum. Bob Neely, Pat Boutette and Inge Hammarström each scored against Cesare Maniago. Just nine games into his NHL career, Palmateer already had back-to-back shutouts and one came against a Canadiens team nobody else would blank during the regular season.

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Three Goals, One Scorer: Pronovost Beats Washington in 1975

The Washington Capitals were still searching for their seventh win of their inaugural NHL season when they visited the Pittsburgh Civic Arena on February 26, 1975. Goaltender Michel Belhumeur gave them a fighting chance, stopping 42 of Pittsburgh’s 45 shots. Jean Pronovost, however, supplied all the offence the Penguins needed, scoring three times in a 3-1 victory that handed Washington its 53rd loss of the season.

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Highlights

• Pittsburgh defeated Washington 3-1 on February 26, 1975.

• Jean Pronovost scored all three Penguins goals.

• The performance was his first NHL regular-season hat trick.

• Two of his goals came on the power play.

• Pete Laframboise assisted on all three goals.

• Michel Belhumeur made 42 saves as Pittsburgh outshot Washington 45-23.

• Pronovost completed the hat trick with just two seconds remaining.

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The teams remained scoreless until 8:13 of the second period, when Pronovost put his 34th goal of the season past Belhumeur. Pete Laframboise and Bob Paradise picked up the assists on what proved to be the only goal through the first two periods. Despite Pittsburgh’s pressure, Washington entered the final frame trailing by just one.

Pronovost wasted little time doubling that lead. With Capitals defenceman Yvon Labre serving a penalty, he scored on the power play just 17 seconds into the third period. Laframboise earned another assist, with Lowell MacDonald also helping set up the goal. Washington later cut the deficit to 2-1 when Ron Anderson spoiled Gary Inness’s shutout bid.

The Capitals remained within striking distance until the closing seconds. With Mike Bloom serving a double minor, Pronovost completed his hat trick on another power-play goal at 19:58. Laframboise collected his third assist of the night, while MacDonald added his second. Inness finished with 22 saves as Pittsburgh outshot Washington 45-23.

The three-goal performance was the first of five regular-season hat tricks in Pronovost’s NHL career. His first two came against the Capitals, making Washington a familiar opponent in his scoring milestones. In a fitting twist, his fifth and final NHL hat trick came while he was wearing a Capitals uniform.

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Guy Lafleur Opens the 1977 Playoffs With a Six-Point Night

The Montreal Canadiens began their 1977 Stanley Cup playoff run with a convincing win, and Guy Lafleur led the way. On April 11 at the Montreal Forum, the Flower scored three goals and added three assists in a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. It was an impressive opening act for a team that would finish the postseason with a 12-2 record and capture its second of four consecutive championships.

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Highlights

• Lafleur recorded three goals and three assists on April 11, 1977.

• Montreal defeated St. Louis 7-2 at the Montreal Forum.

• Lafleur opened the scoring just 51 seconds into the game.

• He completed his hat trick at 11:27 of the second period.

• The Canadiens swept the Blues, outscoring them 19-4.

• Lafleur finished the series with five goals and 12 points.

• His 26-point postseason earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy.

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Lafleur needed just 51 seconds to open the scoring in Game 1 of the quarter-final series. With assists from Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, he beat Blues goaltender Ed Staniowski to give Montreal an early lead. By the first intermission, Lafleur already had two goals and an assist, and the Canadiens were ahead 4-1.

The second period brought more of the same. Lafleur completed his hat trick at 11:27, then assisted on Guy Lapointe’s goal at 14:33. Montreal carried a 6-1 lead into the second intermission, ending Staniowski’s night. Veteran Ed Johnston took over in the St. Louis net for the third period.

Johnston stopped nine of the ten shots he faced, with Bill Nyrop scoring Montreal’s final goal on assists from Jacques Lemaire and Lafleur. That helper gave Guy a point on six of the Canadiens’ seven goals. Brian Sutter later scored for the Blues, assisted by Bernie Federko, who finished the loss with a goal and an assist.

Montreal swept the series in four games, outscoring St. Louis 19-4. Lafleur was involved in 12 of those 19 goals, collecting five goals and seven assists. Two of his goals were game winners, and he assisted on another deciding goal during the sweep.

The opening-night performance set the tone for a memorable spring. In 14 playoff games, Lafleur scored nine goals and finished with 26 points, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. His six-point effort against the Blues had provided an early glimpse of the player who would help carry Montreal to another Stanley Cup.

Guy Lafleur: Autobiography

The story of the legendary Canadiens superstar — speed, scoring, and stardom in Montreal.

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NHL Playoff Hat Tricks Of The 1960s

Relive the NHL playoff hat tricks of the 1960s with the stories, stars, and memorable performances behind some of the decade’s biggest postseason scoring nights.

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J.P. Parise’s 11-Second OT Goal Gives Islanders Their First Playoff Series Win

The New York Islanders could hardly have asked for a more dramatic introduction to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Making their first postseason appearance in 1975, they faced their neighbours and natural rivals, the New York Rangers, in a best-of-three preliminary round. After the teams split the opening two games, the series came down to an April 11 showdown at Madison Square Garden.

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Highlights

• The Islanders made their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance in 1975.

• Their opening series against the Rangers required a deciding third game.

• Clark Gillies and Denis Potvin built a 3-0 Islanders lead.

• Bill Fairbairn and Steve Vickers led the Rangers’ third-period comeback.

• J.P. Parise scored just 11 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 victory.

• The goal broke Pit Martin’s 12-second playoff overtime record from 1972.

• Parise and Jude Drouin had joined the Islanders in separate January trades with Minnesota.

• The Islanders advanced to the semifinals before losing to Philadelphia in seven games.

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For two periods, the Islanders appeared to have the deciding game under control. Clark Gillies opened the scoring in the first, and Denis Potvin added two second-period goals, one on the power play and another shorthanded. That gave the visitors a 3-0 lead heading into the third. The Rangers, however, refused to let their season end quietly. Bill Fairbairn scored twice before Steve Vickers supplied the equalizer, sending the game into overtime.

The extra period lasted just 11 seconds. Jude Drouin found J.P. Parise, who beat Ed Giacomin to give the Islanders a 4-3 victory and the first playoff series win in franchise history. Giacomin had replaced Gilles Villemure during the second period and stopped all four shots he faced before overtime. The next one ended the Rangers’ season.

Parise’s winner also established a record for the fastest overtime goal in Stanley Cup playoff history. He shaved one second off the previous mark, set by Chicago’s Pit Martin against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 9, 1972. For the Islanders, the historical footnote was a bonus: their first taste of playoff hockey had produced a series victory over their biggest rivals.

The two forwards behind the winning goal had arrived from the Minnesota North Stars just three months earlier. On January 5, 1975, the Islanders acquired Parise for Ernie Hicke and Doug Rombough. Two days later, they sent Craig Cameron to Minnesota for Drouin. Those separate deals gave New York a pair of experienced forwards who would make an immediate postseason impact.

The Islanders went on to eliminate Pittsburgh in seven games before pushing the Philadelphia Flyers to a seventh game in the semifinals. Against Philadelphia, New York lost the first three games before winning three straight to stay alive. Parise and Drouin helped launch that comeback in Game 4, this time reversing roles: Drouin scored the overtime winner, with assists going to Parise and Ed Westfall. The Flyers eventually ended the run, but the Islanders’ first postseason had given their fans plenty to remember.

Rangers vs. Islanders: Denis Potvin, Mark Messier, and Everything Else You Wanted to Know about New York's Greatest Hockey Rivalry

Explore the fierce rivalry between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, featuring legendary figures, unforgettable clashes, and the moments that defined one of hockey’s most intense matchups.

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Hardy Astrom Makes 49 Saves as Colorado Rockies Beat Rangers in 1981

The New York Rangers fired 52 shots at Hardy Astrom on January 15, 1981, but the Colorado Rockies goaltender had an answer for all but three. Facing the team that gave him his NHL start, Astrom made 49 saves while Mike Gillis supplied a hat trick in a 4-3 Colorado victory.

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Highlights

• Astrom stopped 49 of 52 shots on January 15, 1981.

• Colorado defeated the visiting Rangers 4-3.

• Mike Gillis scored three of the Rockies’ four goals.

• Gillis completed his hat trick with the winner at 15:18 of the third period.

• Walt McKechnie scored Colorado’s other goal while shorthanded.

• New York outshot Colorado 52-22.

• Astrom played 83 NHL games with the Rangers and Rockies.

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It was the second time Astrom faced at least 50 shots in a game with the Rockies. On October 13, 1979, he stopped 48 of 50 in a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This time, his teammates provided enough offence to turn another exhausting night into a win.

Colorado opened a 2-0 first-period lead on goals by Gillis and Walt McKechnie against Rangers goalie Doug Soetaert. McKechnie’s goal came shorthanded with Dave Watson serving a roughing penalty. Dave Silk replied for New York before the intermission, but Gillis struck again early in the second period to restore Colorado’s two-goal cushion.

The Rangers kept coming. Eddie Johnstone scored shorthanded in the second period, and Anders Hedberg tied the game 3-3 at 9:04 of the third. Gillis then completed his hat trick at 15:18, putting Colorado ahead for good. Despite outshooting the Rockies 52-22, New York left with a loss as Soetaert allowed four goals on 22 shots.

The victory improved Colorado’s record to 16 wins, 22 losses and seven ties through 45 games. Unfortunately, Astrom’s standout performance did not mark the beginning of a turnaround. The Rockies won just once in their next 17 games.

Astrom spent most of his professional career in Sweden and appeared in 83 NHL games with the Rangers and Rockies between 1977-78 and 1980-81. He never recorded an NHL shutout, but he did collect an assist in Colorado’s 6-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on December 17, 1980. Along with stopping 28 of 29 shots, he earned the lone helper on Joel Quenneville’s game-winning goal.

NHL Playoff Hat Tricks Of The 1960s

Relive the NHL playoff hat tricks of the 1960s with the stories, stars, and memorable performances behind some of the decade’s biggest postseason scoring nights.

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Rogie Vachon Records His 50th NHL Shutout Against the Surging Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers arrived at Boston Garden on November 16, 1980, riding a 13-game unbeaten streak. The Boston Bruins, meanwhile, had managed just four wins through their first 16 games. It hardly looked like the ideal matchup for a Boston breakthrough, but Rogie Vachon helped deliver one. Making his 10th appearance as a Bruin, the veteran goaltender stopped all 19 shots he faced to record his 50th career NHL shutout in a 1-0 victory.

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Highlights

• Vachon recorded his 50th NHL shutout on November 16, 1980.

• Boston defeated Philadelphia 1-0 at Boston Garden.

• The loss ended the Flyers’ 13-game unbeaten streak.

• Brad Park scored the only goal at 9:35 of the second period.

• Vachon made 19 saves; Phil Myre stopped 29 of 30 shots.

• Vachon’s first NHL shutout came with Montreal on March 5, 1967.

• He retired with 51 regular-season shutouts and entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.

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More than 13 years had passed since Vachon’s first NHL shutout. On March 5, 1967, in just his eighth NHL appearance, he made 29 saves as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers 2-0. By the time he reached number 50, his career had taken him from Montreal to the Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings before bringing him to Boston.

Neither team scored through the opening period or the first half of the second. Finally, at 9:35 of the middle frame, Brad Park beat Philadelphia goaltender Phil Myre with a slapshot from the blue line. Stan Jonathan and Peter McNab earned the assists on what proved to be the game’s only goal.

Myre gave the Flyers every chance to extend their unbeaten streak, turning aside 29 of Boston’s 30 shots. At the other end, Vachon handled a lighter workload without allowing a breakthrough. Tom Gorence was Philadelphia’s busiest shooter, accounting for five of the Flyers’ 19 shots on net.

The milestone performance was Vachon’s only shutout in 53 appearances during the 1980-81 season. He added one more in 1981-82, his final NHL campaign, to finish with 51 regular-season shutouts, the same career total as Dave Kerr, Tomas Vokoun and Curtis Joseph. In 2016, Vachon’s long wait for another milestone ended when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

NHL Playoff Hat Tricks Of The 1960s

Relive the NHL playoff hat tricks of the 1960s with the stories, stars, and memorable performances behind some of the decade’s biggest postseason scoring nights.

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